Abstract: A method is provided for diagnosis of the severity of a condition in an eosinophilic inflammatory disease such as nasal polyp and for prediction of the recurrence of the disease.

Abstract: A composition is provided, containing an extract of a plant of the genus Hemerocallis as an active ingredient and having antidepressant-like effects or fatigue-relieving effects based on sleep improvement. A composition is also provided, containing a hot-water extract of a plant of the genus Hemerocallis as an active ingredient and having antidepressant-like effects or fatigue-relieving effects based on sleep improvement.

Abstract: In a method for automatically detecting degenerated regions in many stained thin section specimens (40), color region information is obtained on a degenerated region and on a non-degenerated region on image data of a standard specimen in a stained thin section slide. Next, color region information is obtained on a non-degenerated region on image data of a specimen. Next, the image data of the specimen is compared with the image data of the standard specimen to calculate a color correction quantity to match tone and brightness of the non-degenerated region in the specimen with the counterparts in the non-degenerated region in the standard specimen, and the image data of the specimen is corrected with the color correction quantity. Next, a degenerated region is extracted in the corrected image data of the specimen based on the color region information in the standard specimen.

Abstract: A method for diagnosis of the severity of a condition in an eosinophilic inflammatory disease such as nasal polyp or for prediction of the recurrence of the disease, the method comprising detecting H-PGDS induced by eosinophilic leukocytes accumulated in a lesion or determining pGD2 in a nasal alveolar lavage fluid or Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image reading unit for reading optically an image on an original document and an image forming unit for forming the image on a recording medium based on image information read with the image reading section includes a mounting member composed of a first mounting member mounting the image forming unit thereon and a second mounting member mounting the image reading unit thereon, formed above the first mounting member and configured as upward and downward movable with respect to the first mounting member, a pushing section for pushing upward the second mounting member, and a level setting section for setting the second member at a prescribed level.

Abstract: A closable member is arranged in an upper portion of an apparatus main body. A center of gravity is shifted by opening the closable member. The apparatus has an adjusting member of the position of the center of gravity which is arranged out of the apparatus main body so as to be projected therefrom in an edge portion on the side where the center of gravity in the apparatus main body is shifted. Since the closable member can be opened by about 90°, the operability upon performing maintenance of a multi function printer can be improved.

Abstract: A method of readily detecting or differentiating rheumatoid arthritis, which has so far been diagnosed in a comprehensive manner based on various tests and clinical symptoms, and a method of readily and objectively estimating the stage of disease and the degree of dysfunction with regard to rheumatoid arthritis are provided. The detection and differentiation of rheumatoid arthritis are performed by measuring the levels of L-PGDS in a sample such as a body fluid such that the measurement value is used as an index. Further, the stage of disease or the degree of dysfunction of a rheumatoid arthritis patient is determined using the measurement value as an index.

Abstract: Provided are: a method for predicting the onset of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) by precisely detecting abnormalities that occur before the onset of PIH (where such abnormalities have been impossible to detect by various conventional testing methods for PIH) while imposing less of a burden on a subject; a method for evaluating a fetus and placental functions in PIH; and a method for detecting PIH, which comprises measuring the level of human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) in a body fluid sample collected from a subject.

Abstract: In a method for automatically detecting degenerated regions in many stained thin section specimens (40), color region information is obtained on a degenerated region and on a non-degenerated region on image data of a standard specimen in a stained thin section slide. Next, color region information is obtained on a non-degenerated region on image data of a specimen. Next, the image data of the specimen is compared with the image data of the standard specimen to calculate a color correction quantity to match tone and brightness of the non-degenerated region in the specimen with the counterparts in the non-degenerated region in the standard specimen, and the image data of the specimen is corrected with the color correction quantity. Next, a degenerated region is extracted in the corrected image data of the specimen based on the color region information in the standard specimen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for differentiating demential diseases comprising measuring the concentration of human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase in a sample of a body fluid collected from a subject and kits for differentiating demential diseases comprising an antibody specific to human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method which is able to prevent or improve the progress of myolytic diseases such as muscular dystrophy. Such an object is able to be solved by a method where an effective dose of an inhibitor for hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (H-PGDS) or an antagonist to prostaglandin D receptor is administered to a patient who needs it. The present invention also provides a method for screening compounds which are able to prevent the progress of myolytic diseases and to improve it using human H-PGDS overexpressed transgenic mice.

Abstract: A closable member is arranged in an upper portion of an apparatus main body. A center of gravity is shifted by opening the closable member. The apparatus has an adjusting member of the position of the center of gravity which is arranged out of the apparatus main body so as to be projected therefrom in an edge portion on the side where the center of gravity in the apparatus main body is shifted. Since the closable member can be opened by about 90°, the operability upon performing maintenance of a multi function printer can be improved.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit installed in a main body of the image forming apparatus and a tray stack including stacked media supplying units for supplying the media piece from selected one of the stacked media supplying units to the image forming unit. The tray stack is detachable from and attachable to the main body. The tray stack includes a register installed only in uppermost one of the stacked media supplying units. The register functions to correct skew of the media piece with respect to a transport direction along which the media piece is transported and then feed the media piece to the image forming unit.

Abstract: Provided are: a method for predicting the onset of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) by precisely detecting abnormalities that occur before the onset of PIH (where such abnormalities have been impossible to detect by various conventional testing methods for PIH) while imposing less of a burden on a subject; a method for evaluating a fetus and placental functions in PIH; and a method for detecting PIH, which comprises measuring the level of human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) in a body fluid sample collected from a subject.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image reading unit for reading optically an image on an original document and an image forming unit for forming the image on a recording medium based on image information read with the image reading section includes a mounting member composed of a first mounting member mounting the image forming unit thereon and a second mounting member mounting the image reading unit thereon, formed above the first mounting member and configured as upward and downward movable with respect to the first mounting member, a pushing section for pushing upward the second mounting member, and a level setting section for setting the second member at a prescribed level.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method which is able to prevent or improve the progress of myolytic diseases such as muscular dystrophy. Such an object is able to be solved by a method where an effective dose of an inhibitor for hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (H-PGDS) or an antagonist to prostaglandin D receptor is administered to a patient who needs it. The present invention also provides a method for screening compounds which are able to prevent the progress of myolytic diseases and to improve it using human H-PGDS overexpressed transgenic mice.

Abstract: There are provided a compound for treatment or prevention of brain injury caused by diseases such as cerebrovascular disorder, brain degenerative disease and demyelinating disease and a method for screening the same. Brain injury in which prostaglandin D2 is participated is treated or prevented by inhibition of hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase induced in microglia cell or macrophage of brain injury area by diseases such as cerebrovascular disorder, brain degenerative disease or demyelinating disease or by inhibition of activation of prostaglandin D receptor expressed in astroglia cell around the injured area. There is also provided a method of testing those pharmaceutical substances using a transgenic mouse in which human hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase is expressed in large amounts.

Abstract: There are provided a compound for treatment or prevention of brain injury caused by diseases such as cerebrovascular disorder, brain degenerative disease and demyelinating disease and a method for screening the same. Brain injury in which prostaglandin D2 is participated is treated or prevented by inhibition of hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase induced in microglia cell or macrophage of brain injury area by diseases such as cerebrovascular disorder, brain degenerative disease or demyelinating disease or by inhibition of activation of prostaglandin D receptor expressed in astroglia cell around the injured area. There is also provided a method of testing those pharmaceutical substances using a transgenic mouse in which human hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase is expressed in large amounts.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit installed in a main body of the image forming apparatus and a tray stack including stacked media supplying units for supplying the media piece from selected one of the stacked media supplying units to the image forming unit. The tray stack is detachable from and attachable to the main body. The tray stack includes a register installed only in uppermost one of the stacked media supplying units. The register functions to correct skew of the media piece with respect to a transport direction along which the media piece is transported and then feed the media piece to the image forming unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for differentiating demential diseases comprising measuring the concentration of human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase in a sample of a body fluid collected from a subject and kits for differentiating demential diseases comprising an antibody specific to human lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase.